The British business community is moving quickly to turn the newly upgraded UK-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership into action, with Ho Chi Minh City ( HCMC ) emerging as a focal point for cooperation in finance and green transition.

The UK-Vietnam Business Summit, organized by the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam ( BritCham Vietnam ), will be held in HCMC on November 5. It will be among the first major events to capitalize on the enhanced bilateral framework.

BritCham Vietnam welcomed the elevation of relations, which was officially announced on October 30 during the visit of Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam to the UK.

Denzel Eades, a BritCham representative in Vietnam’s southern economic powerhouse, says the upgrade marks a new and ambitious phase in bilateral relations, coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership ( 2010–2025 ).

The move underscores mutual trust and shared prosperity goals, spanning trade, investment, and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor technology, he notes.

Financial centre partnership

A key outcome of the upgraded ties is the formal establishment of the “Vietnam-UK International Financial Centre Partnership Framework,” a milestone that transforms cooperation from vision to implementation.

“This is a critical step that creates a clear structure for collaboration,” says Eades. “Vietnam can now tap into the deep expertise of the City of London, a world leader in finance and green capital markets.”

The partnership opens a new high-level dialogue to accelerate Vietnam’s legal and institutional preparations for HCMC’s ambition to become an international financial centre. BritCham will support the effort through policy dialogue, knowledge sharing, and industry connections, he says.

The November 5 Summit in the Vietnamese southern economic hub will focus on practical measures to advance these goals, including the introduction of a regulatory sandbox for fintech innovation and the pilot issuance of international-standard green bonds. Developing high-quality human capital for the financial sector is also on the agenda.

Stronger foundations

The upgraded relationship builds on a solid economic base, with bilateral trade surpassing £9 billion ( US$11.8 billion ) over the past year, driven by electronics, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. The UK also remains an active investor in Vietnam, with more than 600 projects worth over US$4.5 billion invested to date, according to BritCham.

Eades voices strong support for the new commitment to hold an annual business dialogue between UK leaders and senior Vietnamese policymakers, which he says will ensure consistent progress and a more conducive investment climate.

“BritCham Vietnam is committed to supporting our members and both governments to ensure the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership delivers sustainable and shared prosperity,” he says.